Newton Restores Italian Colors on Prominent Road After 'LineGate' Controversy

New mayor brings back beloved red, white and green lines on Adams Street, reversing previous administration's decision.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 9:54pm

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The city of Newton, Massachusetts will restore the traditional red, white and green Italian colors on Adams Street in the Nonantum neighborhood, after the previous mayor had them removed last year, sparking outrage in the community. The new mayor, Marc Laredo, has made restoring the iconic lines a top priority, saying it's important to reviving the neighborhood's heritage.

Why it matters

The Italian-colored lines on Adams Street had become a beloved tradition in Nonantum over decades, with generations of residents helping to paint them ahead of the annual Italian-American Festa festival. The previous mayor's decision to remove the lines was seen by many as an attack on the neighborhood's cultural identity and tight-knit community.

The details

Former Mayor Ruthanne Fuller ordered city workers to replace the red, white and green lines with thick yellow lines last June, just weeks before the Festa. Her decision was ostensibly for public safety reasons, citing a 2024 traffic study. However, the current mayor, Marc Laredo, says the safety concerns have now been addressed by adding designated parking lanes, eliminating the need for the double yellow line. Laredo has vowed to restore the Italian colors as soon as the weather permits.

  • In late June 2025, former Mayor Ruthanne Fuller directed city workers to remove the red, white and green lines on Adams Street.
  • Just three weeks before the 90th annual Italian-American Festa in July 2025, the iconic paint was replaced with thick yellow lines.
  • On New Year's Day 2026, Marc Laredo was sworn in as the new mayor of Newton.
  • In the coming weeks, as soon as the weather warms up, the white stripe in the center of Adams Street will be flanked by the red and green colors of the Italian flag.

The players

Marc Laredo

The new mayor of Newton, Massachusetts who has made restoring the Italian colors on Adams Street a top priority for his administration.

Ruthanne Fuller

The former mayor of Newton who ordered the removal of the red, white and green lines on Adams Street in 2025, sparking outrage in the Nonantum neighborhood.

Jordan Lee Wagner

A Jewish neighbor who has attended the Adams Street Shul since 1981 and championed the neighborhood's effort to take back the road last summer.

Fran Yerardi

A Newton resident who criticized the former mayor's decision to remove the Italian-colored lines, saying it was "just petty politics."

Brian Riffe

A 65-year-old lifelong Nonantum resident who painted the Italian lines on Adams Street in the 1980s, and whose family is actively involved in the St. Mary of Carmen Society that organizes the annual Festa.

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What they’re saying

“One of the themes that I have been talking about consistently is the importance of community. That means bringing people together, bringing people from all walks of life in the city together, out at events.”

— Marc Laredo, Mayor of Newton

“When I look at those colors, I think of our wonderful neighbors.”

— Jordan Lee Wagner, Nonantum Resident

“The previous mayor, taking the lines away, that was just petty politics.”

— Fran Yerardi, Newton Resident

“The decision to bring them back was that they should never have left in the first place. The mayor stepped up and realized that a wrong had been done to the residents of a tight-knit community.”

— Brian Riffe, Lifelong Nonantum Resident

What’s next

As soon as the weather warms up, the white stripe in the center of Adams Street will be flanked by the red and green colors of the Italian flag.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of preserving cultural traditions and respecting the identity of tight-knit communities, even when public officials believe changes are necessary for safety reasons. The new mayor's decision to restore the iconic Italian colors on Adams Street demonstrates a commitment to bringing the community together and honoring its heritage.